(214 MKII 8i)
The following is taken from a range of well known workshop manuals pg4B.6

I find the following almost impossible to understand

Adjustment
7. With the pedal fully released, check there is equal clearance on each side of the throttle lever at the lost motion link and no slack in the cable. Have an assistant fully depress the pedal and check the cam opens fully, then check that it returns to the at rest position when released.

my thoughts:
a) surely depress is the opposite of pressed, so should assistant be pressing down, or pulling up the pedal?
b) what if the cam doesnot open fully? (new throttle housing)
c) what if it does not return to its at rest position? (new throttle housing)

8. To adjust the cable, switch on the ignition and position the stepper motor by moving the cam only to open, and fully close the throttle. Note that it is essential for accurate positioning of the stepper motor that the accelerator pedal switch contacts remain closed, so that the ECU recognises the throttle movement as a command and indexes the stepper motor to 25 steps.

!!! BOOM !!! (my head exploded)

Could someone please explain the above, without out ambiguous terms (depress?(pressed or released), or assumptions that people know what the accelerator switch contacts are or how to tell if they are closed?

I am sure this must be simpler than it sounds... (Step 8 is it just the equivalent of the ignition to position 2, fully press accelerator 5 times, wait for stepper to reset, turn off ignition?)

de·press –verb (used with object)
1. to make sad or gloomy; lower in spirits; deject; dispirit.
2. to lower in force, vigor, activity, etc.; weaken; make dull.
3. to lower in amount or value.
4. to put into a lower position: to depress the muzzle of a gun.
5. to press down.
6. Music. to lower in pitch.

I think the the above instructions basically mean; make sure there is no slack, nor strain, on the accelerator cable when the accelerator peddle is moved all the way down and back, including at rest. The Cam should fully open and shut with the full motion of the accelerator peddle.

If the cable is too tight, the cam won't fully shut (return), if the cable is too lose, then the cam won't full open.